Airport travel smooth at CVG on Thanksgiving eve

HEBRON, Ky. - New security measures are a major focus at our nation's airports as Thanksgiving travelers take to the skies for the holiday.

The debate over full-body scanners led critics to encourage passengers to opt-out of the controversial full-body scans.

Most passengers did go through the traditional metal detector and X-ray machine, but there were some who had the full-body scan and pat down.

9 News did not find anyone protesting in the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport on the eve of Thanksgiving.

However, one family came to thank the Transportation Security Administration as they prepared to fly to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the holiday.

The Bonhaus family came carrying something extra that caught the eye of TSA workers at CVG on Wednesday. They had a white cardboard sign that read "Thank you TSA for keeping my family safe".

"I think it's unreasonable these protests and I'd like to think that I'm safe and everybody else is safe too going through the scanners," said 13-year-old Abby Bonhaus of Sycamore Township.

Abby, her sister Ally, and their father Randy came up with the idea to publically thank the TSA at the security checkpoint.

"I would like to thank the TSA for all their hard work. At the end of the day, they keep our families safe. I think really they're getting a bad rap from the silent minority. I would just like to be the majority and show that I want to thank the TSA for all the hard work they do, especially this time of the Thanksgiving holidays," said Randy Bonhaus.

By the looks on the some of the faces of TSA employees, they seemed to appreciate it.

There were some passengers who probably didn't feel as good going through the security checkpoint as they endured the controversial invasive pat down, but many said it's part of the cost to protect travelers.

"My perspective is we'd rather know before than after if anything is wrong. If anything is wrong then this is just a necessary part of flying. We need to come prepared for whatever the security measures are that are in place," said Tyson Betts of Mt. Auburn.

For the greater part of the day, there were no delays at the airport even with the rain falling most of the afternoon.

The airport even launched a new program to help keep delays at a minimum through the security checkpoint.

There is a new family assisted lane that will be open during peak travel times.

"This is our family assisted lane that we've worked with our airport team and the TSA to be able to separate those passengers that need a little extra time when they have children or if they're elderly to get through security. It allows them to have a bench area to sit down, their own table to actually take their items out while at the same time our business travelers can go through another lane and their process is expedited," explained airport spokesperson, Barb Schempf.